Music Reviews

Jazz.com offers the most comprehensive and detailed guide to jazz tracks available anywhere. Drawing on a team of more than thirty expert reviewers, we cover the best of current releases as well as classic performances from the past.

To browse through all of our reviews, use the search box in the upper right hand corner of this page. Or click on the boxes below to see some jazz.com's special music-related features.

Below are the tracks currently in rotation at jazz.com.


 Jan Garbarek

Jan Garbarek - "Milagre dos Peixes"

After a five year hiatus since his last ECM leader date, Jan Garbarek returns with this exceptional live recording. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Robert Glasper

Robert Glasper - "No Worries"

On a CD that juxtaposes jazz and hip-hop, Robert Glasper digs in with an urgent, straight-ahead trio performance. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 James Carter

James Carter - "Diminishing"

What does it mean when a team of crack jazz artists start playing like rockers? Maybe it's just James Carter bein' James Carter. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Gretchen Parlato

Gretchen Parlato - "Butterfly"

Gretchen Parlato shines on an intimate, under-produced vocal recording that breaks the rules. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell - "Disfarmer Theme"

Bill Frisell creates a brooding 6/8 theme for his outstanding return-to-the-roots project Disfarmer . Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Chris Potter

Chris Potter - "Facing East"

Chris Potter shines on bass clarinet and tenor in this raw jam-style tune from his new CD Ultrahang. Reviewed here by S. Victor Aaron

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 Darcy James Argue

Darcy James Argue - "Phobos"

On this impressive debut CD, Darcy James Argue's progressive big band often takes on the persona of a small, intense rock ensemble. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Christian McBride

Christian McBride - "Theme for Kareem"

Christian McBride offers a tribute to Freddie Hubbard, but the real star here is the very hot rhythm section. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong - "West End Blues"

"I felt," said trumpeter Max Kaminsky after hearing Armstrong's recording, "as if I had stared into the sun's eye." A classic performance revisited by Alan Kurtz

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 Freddie Hubbard

Freddie Hubbard - "Blues by Five"

Six months after the trumpeter’s death, this music from Hubbard’s 1969 European tour reminds us of his hard bop heroics. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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Miles Davis

Miles Davis - "My Ship"

"My Ship," helmed by arranger Gil Evans to a port of pure bliss, is possibly the most sublime four minutes in all of music. A classic performance revisited by Alan Kurtz

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 Enrico Pieranunzi

Enrico Pieranunzi - "Scarlatti Sonata K377 & Improv"

Enrico Pieranunzi’s reworking of Scarlatti is not your typical “jazzing the classics.” Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Art Tatum & Ben Webster

Art Tatum & Ben Webster - "My Ideal"

Art Tatum was a virtuoso and sometimes a grandstanding accompanist, but Ben Webster brings out the best in the famous pianist. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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 Folk Art

Joe Lovano - "Powerhouse"

You can hear how much Joe Lovano enjoys playing with his band "Us Five" on this loose, swinging track from his 21st Blue Note release Folk Art. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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Five Peace Band

Five Peace Band - "In A Silent Way/It’s About That Time"

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin revisit a classic Miles song, and Herbie Hancock sits in. Reviewed here by S. Victor Aaron

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 Diana Krall

Diana Krall - "Too Marvelous for Words"

Diana Krall delivers a heartfelt interpretation of a standard from 1937 and makes it sound like it was composed this morning. Reviewed here by Ted Gioia

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Claudio Roditi

Claudio Roditi - "Tune Up"

“Tune Up” is a dog-eared jam session tune. But not on this stellar outing by trumpeter Roditi. Reviewed here by Bill Barnes

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